The World's Coolest Watch Customizers

Want To Stand Out With Your Watch? Check Out These Custom Timepieces

You walk into a dinner party flashing your brand new Rolex Daytona. And five other guys are wearing the exact same one. That’s precisely what happened to George Bamford, son of British billionaire businessman and car collector Anthony Bamford, which led him to get his Rolex customized with a blacked-out finish. His new watch, different than anything Rolex itself makes, was an instant hit and all his (seriously wealthy) friends wanted one. The Bamford Watch Department was born.

BWD is one of a handful of Rolex customizers who started with basic blacked-out pieces and have branched out from there. Most are based in the U.K., where the trend started as an homage to custom British military Rolex Submariners (“MilSubs”) of the ‘60s and ‘70s. More recently California’s Huckleberry Ltd. has gotten into the act. Here are the coolest custom Rolexes you can buy — or in some cases, can’t. Most are made in strictly limited editions and sell out immediately, but the beauty of bespoke is you can commission your own.

Huckleberry Ltd. Green Dial Submariner

Huckleberry Ltd.

Los Angeles based Huckleberry Ltd. brought something new to the game with its intricate engraved pieces. They brought in master engraver Fin Des Temps to create the custom watches, which take 140 hours to do by hand, in strictly limited quantities. Before the Sub they released a stainless steel Milgauss adorned with 3.40 carats of black diamonds, which sold out in a mere six hours. The Green Dial is also now sold out but you might be able to persuade a collector to part with one — for a premium. $37,500.

Project X Designs “Paul Newman” Daytona

Project X Designs

Rolex’s newest version of the iconic Daytona designed for racing drivers is a tribute to the “Paul Newman” Daytonas made famous by the actor and motorsports enthusiast in the ‘70s. But Project X Designs actually came out with their own version of the Newman, anticipating Rolex’s move, a full year before. Only 28 of the ceramic-bezeled beauties are being made. Kanye West and Daniel Craig also own blacked-out Project X Rollies.

Bamford Watch Department Yachtmaster

Bamford Watch Department

Bamford’s version of the Yachtmaster, one of Rolex’s newest and most complicated designs created for yachtsmen who want a reliable timepiece when competing in high-stakes regattas, is dubbed the “Stealth Ghost.” Bamford created a new bezel insert (which controls the countdown to the start of a race) and gave it a black military-grade titanium coating and a stealth dial. The result is slightly menacing and much more cutting edge than the original.

Titan Black Daytona “Double Index”

Titan Black

Titan Black’s version of the more modern Daytona Reference 116520 cleverly works in gold detailing, setting it apart from the others. Limited to just 25 pieces, it features a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating for diamond “hardness, durability and slickness,” and has the added attraction of being water resistant to 330ft. As the company says, “You can’t improve a Rolex, but you can make it unique.” Already have a stock Rolex? Titan Black will give it a makeover.